Written Answers Monday 11 September 2006

Scottish Executive

Anthrax

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the press statement of 16 August 2006 by Health Protection Scotland, when tests to identify the responsible disease were commenced at specialist laboratories in England following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive at which specialist laboratories in England diagnostic tests were carried out following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what complex and time-consuming tests, as described in the press statement of 16 August 2006 by Health Protection Scotland, were undertaken by specialist laboratories following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was a preliminary diagnosis of anthrax by Edinburgh Royal Infirmary or by specialist laboratories following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders and, if so, whether NHS Borders was informed and by whom.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when Public Health Scotland was first advised of a definite diagnosis of anthrax by specialist laboratories following the death in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 8 July 2006 of a man from the Scottish Borders and when Public Health Scotland informed NHS Borders of that diagnosis.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who is potentially at risk, however small, of contracting anthrax following the single incidence of the disease in the Scottish Borders.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it will be clear that other cases of anthrax will not occur as a result of the case reported in the Scottish Borders.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures need to be taken at the property of the victim of the case of anthrax in the Scottish Borders, both to confirm the source and to render the area harmless, and how long it is estimated that this process will take.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date ministers were first notified that a death from anthrax had taken place in the Scottish Borders.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who the experts on the panel were that Health Protection Scotland consulted in respect of the incident of, and subsequent death from, anthrax in the Scottish Borders in July 2006.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the sample which subsequently confirmed that a man from the Scottish Borders had died from anthrax was tested.

Mr Andy Kerr: Investigations are continuing into the death in July of a man from anthrax. Disclosure of this information may prejudice these investigations.

Anthrax

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any risk to animal health from the case of anthrax reported in the Scottish Borders.

Ross Finnie: There is no reason to believe that Anthrax in the Scottish Borders originated from the domestic animal population and no evidence to suggest that any domestic animals have been at risk of infection.

Anthrax

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether precautions need to be taken by those in charge of livestock, in terms of the protection of both human and animal health, as a result of the case of anthrax reported in the Scottish Borders.

Ross Finnie: No additional precautions by animal-keepers are required in response to the recent finding of Anthrax in a human in the Scottish Borders. Animal-keepers, particularly those who keep cattle and pigs, have an obligation to report any unexplained sudden deaths of their animals to the local State Veterinary Service Animal Health Office.

Anthrax

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out in the last five years into the prevalence of anthrax among wild mammals.

Ross Finnie: Anthrax is a rare disease in the UK. Experience of dealing with anthrax in domestic animals over many decades by the State Veterinary Service has not led to suspicion of anthrax in the wild animal population to date.

  No research to determine the prevalence amongst wild animals has been conducted by the Executive.

Business Learning Accounts

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure has been on the business learning accounts programme.

Allan Wilson: Total expenditure by the enterprise networks on business learning accounts is £1,143,000 to date.

Business Learning Accounts

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring the success of the business learning accounts programme.

Allan Wilson: An independent evaluation of Business Learning Accounts was undertaken by Cambridge Policy Consultants. The final report is due to be published shortly.

Business Learning Accounts

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a set of approved programmes offering training facilities to contribute to business growth for which small businesses might apply to the business learning accounts programme.

Allan Wilson: There was no set of approved programmes offering training facilities for Business Learning Accounts (BLAs). BLAs offered support to small businesses for any training linked to business growth – this included both formal training courses and informal learning such as mentoring and job-shadowing.

Cancer

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce Avastin (bevacizumab) and Erbitux (cetuximab) to treat advanced bowel cancer.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) provides advice to NHS boards and their Area Drug and Therapeutics Committees (ADTCs) across Scotland about the status of all newly licenced medicines, all new formulations of existing medicines and any major new indications for established products (licenced from January 2002).

  After careful consideration and evaluation of the evidence provided by the companies for bevacizumab and cetuximab respectively SMC advised that,

  Bevacizumab (Avastin®) is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland in combination with intravenous fluorouracil/folinic acid or intravenous fluorouracil/folinic acid/irinotecan for first line treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum.

  Cetuximab (Erbitux®) is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland in combination with irinotecan for the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) – expressing metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of irinotecan-including cytotoxic therapy.

  SMC’s recommendations do not override the clinical judgment of an individual doctor who must make appropriate decisions on treatment in the circumstances of the individual patient.

Central Heating Programme

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that pensioner households which do not have a connection to the mains electricity supply benefit from its central heating and Warm Deal programmes.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  To participate in the central heating programme households must have an existing connection to the mains electricity supply or have a suitable alternative power supply that meets the technical requirements of the Programme. Where an existing mains power supply does not meet the technical requirements of the Programme the scheme will provide for the reasonable cost of providing for an electrical upgrade to the mains supply.

Children

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many child injuries recorded by each accident and emergency department in each of the last three years related to play equipment such as trampolines, also showing year-on-year changes.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally.

  NHS treatment for unintentional injuries may be provided in a number of health settings including general practice, accident and emergency departments and as an in-patient in a hospital. Data held centrally is not available at a level of detail that would allow the injury type (e.g. play equipment such as trampolines) to be identified.

Council Tax

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals against council tax banding there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

George Lyon: The information requested is not held centrally.

Crofting

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are made by the Crofters Commission to ensure that common grazings committees are run democratically and in the interests of all shareholders.

Rhona Brankin: No such checks are made, nor would it be practicable to operate an effective checking regime. However, when shareholders in a common grazings appoint a committee the Commission carries out checks to ensure that the correct notification procedures set down in the legislation have been carried out.

  The Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 gives the Crofters Commission various tasks in relation to common grazings committees. In particular, section 47 (8) allows the commission to remove from office committee members or the clerk of the committee where satisfied that they have not been properly carrying out their duties under the act. There are over 700 grazings committees and relatively few complaints are made to the commission.

Dentistry

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce targets for general dental services (GDS) provided by independent GDS practioners.

Lewis Macdonald: Criteria already exist for the payment of certain allowances such as the higher rate of general dental practice allowance where an additional 6% is payable, making a total payment of 12% of NHS earnings to those dental practices which (a) treat all categories of patients under NHS arrangements (b) have an average of 500 registered NHS patients per dentist, of which 100 must be fee-paying adults and (c) have average gross NHS earnings of £50,000 or more per dentist.

Environment

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the introduction of a levy on plastic bags.

Ross Finnie: The Executive recently submitted further written evidence to the Environment and Rural Development Committee on the Member’s Bill to introduce a levy on plastic bags. This written evidence can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/environment/papers-06/rap06-25.pdf

Finance

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform will publish the report of the Budget Review Group.

Mr Tom McCabe: The report will be published as background information that informed spending review decisions when the Executive announces the outcome of the next spending review in September 2007.

Fisheries

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishing vessels have been (a) deregistered and (b) decommissioned since 1999.

Ross Finnie: Details of all Scottish based vessels which have been deregistered in each of the years since 1999 are as follows:

  

1999
156 


2000
136 


2001
93 


2002
176 


2003
186 


2004
90 


2005
157


2006
98 (to 31 August)



  Two decommissioning schemes have been applied by the Environment and Rural Affairs Department since 1999 and a total of 165 over 10m vessels have left the fleet under these arrangements. On decommissioning, these vessels were deregistered and are, therefore, reflected in the above figures, depending on the year of deregistration.

Fisheries

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into loss of jobs in the fishing industry since 1999.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive regularly monitors employment, costs and earnings of the fishing industry in Scotland. The results of these studies are published, for example in the annual Sea Fisheries Statistical Bulletin, with accompanying commentary. The most important factor since 1999 affecting the size of the Scottish fleet, and consequently employment in the Scottish fishing industry, has been the dramatic reduction in the cod biomass which necessitated fleet restructuring, supported by £56.2 million of public funding.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has in relation to how the United Kingdom votes on applications to the European Union to import or cultivate genetically modified crops, foods and feeds.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive’s role is to ensure that the regulatory processes to import or cultivate GM crops, foods or feeds operate properly and that applications are subject to robust and detailed scrutiny. When the application includes the potential import or cultivation of a GM crop, the Executive as part of the UK competent authority contributes to the UK voting position.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, or intends to take, in relation to (a) European Communities - Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products (DS291, DS292, DS293), (b) Comments by the European Communities on the Scientific and Technical Advice to the Panel, Geneva, 28 January 2005 and (c) Further scientific or technical evidence in response to the other parties’ comments by the European Communities, Geneva, 10 February 2005.

Rhona Brankin: There is no reason for the Scottish Executive to take action on these documents, which relate to a WTO dispute on biotechnological products.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any studies focusing on adverse psychiatric reactions linked to the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug, Strattera.

Lewis Macdonald: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has advised that a Prescription Event Monitoring study is being undertaken by the Drug Safety Research Unit in Southampton. The study is to further evaluate the safety profile of Strattera in routine clinical practice and includes a specific focus on psychiatric reactions – particularly suicidal thoughts and behaviour. It was initiated when clinical trial data suggested an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in patients taking Strattera. Based on these data the Chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines advised health professionals in September 2005 that:

  Patients should be monitored for signs of depression, suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviour and referred for appropriate treatment if necessary.

  Patients and parents should be informed about this risk and advised to watch for any clinical worsening, irritability or agitation, suicidal thoughts or behaviour or other unusual changes in behaviour.

  Further information about the use of Strattera can be found on the MHRA website:

  www.mhra.gov.uk.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for pain clinics.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally. NHS boards are given unified budgets, each financial year, from which they would be expected to meet the costs of treatment for people with chronic pain.

  It is for boards to decide how their unified budgets should be distributed, based on their assessments of local needs.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to each pain clinic in each of the last five years.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally. NHS boards are given unified budgets, each financial year, from which they would be expected to meet the costs of treatment for people with chronic pain.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pain clinics there are in Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: All NHS boards provide services for chronic pain management and most offer regular pain management clinics. The number and frequency of these clinics is for boards to determine on the basis of locally assessed need.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is to be treated in each pain clinic.

Mr Andy Kerr: Most pain clinics provide services to patients in an out-patient setting. Information about out-patient waiting times is collected centrally at specialty level only and does not differentiate between different types of clinic within the specialty. Consequently, the information requested is not available centrally.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist pain clinics across Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards are expected to fund chronic pain services, including pain clinics, from the unified budgets made available to them by the Executive.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected future funding is for pain clinics.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally. NHS boards are given unified budgets, increased every financial year, from which they would be expected to meet the costs of treatment for people with chronic pain.

Hospitals

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS hospitals have (a) in-house and (b) private contracts for cleaning services.

Mr Andy Kerr: The current pattern of cleaning services provision in NHS hospitals is as follows:

  

Hospital
(a) In-House
(b) Contracted Out


Gartnaval General Hospital, Glasgow
3 
 


Western Infirmary, Glasgow
3 
 


Glasgow Royal Infirmary
 
3 


Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
3 
 


Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
3 
 


The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
 
3 


Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
3 
 


The Ayr Hospital
3 
 


Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock
3 
 


Borders General Hospital
3 
 


Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
3 
 


Queen Margaret Hospital
3 
 


Southern General Hospital
3 
One Department


Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow
3 
 


Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow
3 
 


Inverclyde Royal Hospital/Ravenscraig Hospital
3 
 


Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley
3 
 


Raigmore Hospital, Inverness
3 
 


Monklands Hospital, Airdrie
3 
 


Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride
 
3 


Wishaw General Hospital
 
3 


St John’s Hospital, Livingston
3 
 


Perth Royal Infirmary
3 
 


Stirling Royal Infirmary
3 
 


Falkirk Royal Infirmary
3 
 


Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
3 
 


State Hospital Board for Scotland
3 
 


Golden Jubilee Hospital
3

House Prices

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27108 by Malcolm Chisholm on 24 July 2006, what the average percentage increases in house prices have been in (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006 in each postcode area in the Highlands and Islands electoral region.

Malcolm Chisholm: The available information, for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 40322). The document also provides guidance on the source of the information and its interpretation and supporting material on the distribution of prices of houses sold in the Highlands and Islands electoral region in 2005.

Junior Doctors

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rotas covering junior doctors are not compliant with the EU working time directive, broken down by (a) speciality and (b) NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: We do not monitor centrally the compliance of rotas with the Working Time Regulations (WTR) since this is the responsibility of NHS boards as employers. However, the rotas for doctors in training are monitored twice a year to ensure compliance with the New Deal contract and data are available centrally from that source.

  Information on compliance rates with the New Deal is published by specialty and by NHS board on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics at www.isdscotland.org/wf_medical. Section B gives details of medical posts in NHS Scotland with tables B13 to 17 providing summaries of compliance rates for doctors in training with the New Deal.

  The latest figures reported for rota period August 2005 to January 2006 show the compliance rate for Scotland was 97.2%. Based only on the hours worked, 99.4% of doctors in training do not exceed the maximum New Deal average of 56 contracted hours a week.

  The current limit for average working time for junior doctors under the WTR is 58 hours a week (57 hours from 2007 and 48 hours from 2009).

Lifelong Learning

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many calls learndirect scotland has taken in each of the last two years and how many it has the capacity to accept.

Allan Wilson: The following tables give the numbers of forecast and actual calls to the learndirect scotland and learndirect scotland for business helplines in the last two years.

  Calls to Learndirect Scotland

  

Year
Forecast for Year
Actual Calls
Percentage of Forecast


2004-05
69,559
79,993
115%


2005-06
76,797
73,725
96%



  Calls to Learndirect Scotland for Business

  

Year
Forecast for Year
Actual Calls
Percentage of Forecast


2004-05
2,264
1,924
85%


2005-06
2,846
2,448
86%



  Learndirect scotland contracts with a third-party to provide contact centre services on its behalf against an agreed service level agreement. Learndirect scotland only pays for the capacity it requires based on a rolling six week forecast, not an annual forecast. This arrangement ensures maximum value for the public purse as it offers the flexibility to curtail/enhance capacity at very short notice without the expense and risk of managing dedicated resources.

  Learndirect scotland does not have a maximum capacity for receiving calls. Learndirect scotland has the facility to overflow into its other contact centres in Brora and Newcastle if demand exceeds the capacity in Glasgow.

NHS Equipment

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive at which institutions x-ray facilities are available in the NHS and whether there are any plans to change this provision.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally. X-ray facilities are available in a wide range of institutions, and it is for NHS boards to determine where they are sited, based on clinical need.

NHS Finance

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the NHS investing in shares; how much each NHS board has invested and in what companies; who incurs any losses that are accrued, and who monitors the receipts.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards are not permitted to invest in shares and will therefore have no reason to do so and invest nil, incurring no losses and having no receipts.

  NHS boards may however invest funds donated to them in shares but the Scottish Executive does not hold any information on these funds, as they are held on the boards’ behalf as separate endowment funds. Investment of NHS endowment funds is a matter for the individual fund managers and may also be governed by the terms of the endowment made.

NHS Staff

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had had with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and NHS employers with regard to the proposed increase in the NMC registration fee.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has no authority over the regulation of nurses and midwives as this is a reserved matter. The Nursing and Midwifery Council sets the standards for professional self-regulation and must be responsible for the setting of fees at an appropriate level to achieve this. The Scottish Executive will reply to the current consultation on the proposed registration fee increase.

NHS Staff

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the increases in the earnings of all health professionals over the last 10 years, also showing the increases in the registration fees paid to their respective regulatory bodies expressed in real terms and as a percentage of their salaries.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table shows percentage increases in pay for nurses, allied health professions, hospital doctors and dentists expressed in cash terms and in real terms since 1997.

  The Executive does not hold information on registration fees for regulatory bodies as these are independent organisations.

  

Year
Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professions
Hospital Doctors and Dentists


Cash terms
Real Terms1
 
Cash Terms
Real Terms1


1997-98
3.3% staged2
0.3%
 
3.4% staged3
0.4%


1998-99
3.8% staged4
1.2%
 
4.2% plus 0.35% for pensions staged4
1.6%


1999-2000
4.7% plus uprating of some allowances
2.7%
 
3.5% plus £500 on consultants’ scale maximum
1.5%


2000-01
3.4% plus uprating of some allowances and changes to grade D incremental scale
2.1%
 
3.3%
2.0%


2001-02
3.7% plus average 2% for F-I grades by consolidation of discretionary points 
1.2%
 
3.9%
1.4%


2002-03
3.6% plus increase in allowances and changes to some pay scales
0.4%
 
3.6% plus increases in pay scale maxima for senior house officers, staff grades and associate specialists
0.4%


2003-04
3.225%
0.6%
 
3.225% plus changes to pay scale for staff grades and associate specialists
0.6%


2004-05
3.225%
1.0%
Consultants on 2003  contract

Consultants on pre-2003 contract

Doctors in training

Staff grades and associate specialists
3.225%


2.5%


2.7%


2.7% plus changes to incremental and discretionary scales
1.0%


0.3%


0.5%


0.5%




2005-06
3.225%
1.1%
Consultants on 2003 contract

Consultants on pre-2003 contract

Doctors in training

Staff grades and associate specialists
3.225%


3.0%


3.0%


3.225%
1.1%


0.9%


0.9%


1.1%




2006-07
2.5%
0.1%
Consultants on 2003 contract

Consultants on pre-2003 contract

Doctors in training

Staff grades and associate specialists
2.2% staged5


2.2% staged5


2.2%


2.4%



-0.2%


-0.2%


-0.2%


0.0%





  Notes:

  1. Using GDP deflators as at 29 March 2006

  2. Staged: 2.8% from 1 April 1997 balance from 1 December 1997.

  3. Staged: 2% from 1 April 1997 balance from 1 December 1997.

  4. Staged: 2% from 1 April 1998 balance from 1 December 1998.

  5. Staged: 1% from 1 April 2006 balance from 1 November 2006.

NHS Waiting Times

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered introducing a waiting time standard for people who have suffered their first seizure, given that there are no neurology standards to prevent individuals with suspected epilepsy waiting for more than six months for intervention and treatment.

Mr Andy Kerr: All patients are seen and treated on the basis of clinical priority. The Executive has set national maximum waiting times for first out-patient appointments and for hospital in-patient and day case treatment. These apply to patients waiting to be seen or treated in the specialty of neurology. Within these maximum waiting times for routine attendances and admissions, patients are prioritised and treated according to clinical priority.

  The majority of patients who require in-patient or day case treatment are treated quickly. 53% of patients treated in NHSScotland hospitals are admitted immediately and never join a waiting list. Of those who do wait, 40% are admitted within one month and over 70% within three months. For those who have to wait longer, the national maximum waiting time was reduced from 12 months to nine months at the end of 2003 and to six months at the end of 2005. This guaranteed waiting time will be further reduced to 18 weeks by the end of 2007. NHSScotland is making excellent progress towards this commitment. On 30 June 2006, 4,027 patients with a guarantee had waited more than 18 weeks for in-patient/day case treatment – the lowest figure ever recorded.

  With regard to out-patient waiting times, the majority of patients referred by a general medical or dental practitioner for a first out-patient appointment at a consultant-led clinic are seen quickly, with nearly 32% of patients being seen within one month of referral and 57% within nine weeks. For those who have to wait longer, the national maximum waiting time is 26 weeks. This will be reduced to 18 weeks from the end of 2007. NHSScotland is making excellent progress towards this commitment. On 30 June 2006, 11,319 patients without an availability status code had waited more than 18 weeks for in-patient/day case treatment – the lowest figure ever recorded.

NHS Waiting Times

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received since 1999 in respect of applying waiting time targets to particular illnesses.

Mr Andy Kerr: Representations take many forms, such as for example, letters from individual patients, news releases and recommendations in reports by political, voluntary and research organisations, and petitions to the Parliament. Consequently, the information requested is not held centrally. All representations are considered carefully.

NHS Waiting Times

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for determining which illnesses should have waiting time targets of less than six months.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive’s policy is to reduce waiting times for those patients waiting longest. That is why maximum waiting time targets have been set for a first out-patient consultation, for diagnostic tests and for in-patient and day case treatment. Waiting time targets have also been set in our clinical priority areas of cancer and heart disease. Within these maximum waiting times, patients are prioritised on the basis of clinical need, with those patients requiring the most urgent care being seen or treated more quickly.

  Our waiting times targets are set out in Fair to All, Personal to Each: The Next Steps for NHSScotland, which was published in December 2004. This included commitments that by the end of 2007, no patient will wait more than 18 weeks for a first out-patient consultation and for in-patient and day case treatment, as well as a number of waiting time targets for condition-specific conditions such as coronary heart disease. In formulating these commitments, senior officials in my department undertook soundings with key representatives of NHSScotland as well as taking account of any current clinical guidelines. This ensured that any targets set were clinically appropriate.

Planning

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many developments of 1,000 square metres of floor space or greater have been granted planning permission in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Johann Lamont: The following table shows the number of developments which are 1,000 square metres or greater that have been granted planning permission over the last five years. These figures include business, industry and all other major developments.

  

 
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Aberdeen City
43
37
28
32
N/A


Aberdeenshire
55
42
49
57
70


Angus 
7
4
3
4
8


Argyll and Bute
22
11
9
30
17


Cairngorms
N/A
N/A
N/A
4
32


Clackmannanshire
10
10
3
13
5


Dumfries and Galloway
33
31
18
36
43


Dundee City
12
24
25
12
23


East Ayrshire
23
13
18
28
23


East Dunbartonshire
7
6
6
9
9


East Lothian
41
46
32
24
22


East Renfrewshire
8
8
11
11
7


Edinburgh
90
55
54
46
43


Falkirk 
15
23
17
31
20


Fife 
58
73
58
57
47


Glasgow City
85
74
91
90
79


Highland
42
39
66
69
51


Inverclyde
17
9
9
11
14


LLTNP 
N/A
3*
6
4
6


Midlothian
20
8
6
7
25


Moray 
7
0
5
44
N/A


North Ayrshire
21
15
15
18
N/A


North Lanarkshire
50
33
50
46
41


Orkney 
8
4
3
5
12


Perth and Kinross
12
10
16
34
57


Renfrewshire
38
41
52
42
21


Scottish Borders
15
11
9
6
17


Shetland
2
17
10
13
4*


South Ayrshire
16
26
7
14
16


South Lanarkshire
46
42
36
45
68


Stirling 
13
8
19
28
57


West Dunbartonshire
6
3
6
21
13


West Lothian
28
31
15
39
38


Western Isles
9
21
7
3
8


Scotland
859
778
759
933
896



  Notes:

  *Incomplete year.

  N/A Statistics not yet available.

Planning

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any source of financial assistance is available to enable community councils to take a planning appeal upheld by the Executive to judicial review.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive does not provide financial assistance to community councils to seek judicial review of planning decisions.

Planning

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which planning inquiries dealt with by the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit resulted in appeals being upheld in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information provided in the following table shows the planning inquiries dealt with by the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit (SEIRU) where the appeal was allowed (upheld) in each year since 1 April 1999.

  

SEIRU Reference
Site Address
Development Description


1999-2000


P\PPA\160\23
Land to the South of Methlan Park, Clyde Shore Road, Dumbarton
Erection of Residential Development (Outline)(Revised Scheme)


P\PPA\110\137
Land to the West of Glengarioch Distillery, Oldmeldrum
OPP for residential development, public open space and by-pass.


P\PPA\340\133
Plot B, Middle Dalguise, By Dunkeld
Erection of a house


P\PPA\230\171
9/10 Commercial Street, Edinburgh
Change of use from office (Class 2) to Bistro (Class 3)


P\PPA\340\134
Land at Loanleven, Near Almondbank
Winning and working of materials


P\PPA\230\174
Craigcrook Road, Edinburgh
Erection of 71 houses, 34 town houses and 57 flats


P\PPA\130\32
Ardmore, Near Helensburgh
Erection of waste water treatment plant


P\PPA\230\187
Glasgow Road, Edinburgh
Erection of standalone restaurant with drive thru’ facilities


P\PPA\230\195
104 West Port, Edinburgh
Change of use of public house to public house/entertainment centre


P\PPA\160\30
Vale of Leven District General Hospital, Main Street, Alexandria
OPP for the erection of residential development and formation of a "4 way" roundabout


P\PPA\200\58
Duncans Garden Centre, 101 Main Street, Milngavie
Erection of Restaurant/Public House and Hotel


P\PPA\410\8
Stornoway Balti House, 25 South Beach, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Form Night Club and Second Floor Flat


P\PPA\340\149
Wallace Works Site, 8 Dunkeld Road, Perth
Class 1 non food retail development with associated car parking and service area


P\PPA\260\107
Sanda Street (Opposite Nos 1-5), Glasgow
Demolition of outbuildings, erection of 16 flats and formation of basement level car park.


P\PPA\270\117
Land at Culloden Shopping Centre, Keppoch Road, Culloden, Inverness
Erection of two restaurants with takeaway facilities


P\PPA\230\185
Mortonhall Caravan Park, Frogston Road East, Edinburgh
New wash-up area, service yard, additional pitches & managers caravan


P\PPA\230\196
Craiglockhart House, 48 Craiglockhart Dell Road, Edinburgh
Erection of one lodge house; five townhouses and eleven flats


P\PPA\260\143
238A Saracen Street, Possilpark, Glasgow
Use of Shop as extension to betting office


P\PPA\150\19
Land between River Black Devon and Forth Crescent, Alloa 
Residential development, associated infrastructure, structural landscaping, community facilities & recreational/space


2000-2001


P\PPA\100\56
Links Road, Aberdeen
OPP for proposed retail park, car parking, access road, landscaping and associated service areas.


P\PPA\130\43
Land South of Pennyfuir Cemetery, Connel Road, Oban
Erection of waste water treatment works


P\PPA\370\97
Robert Loan Farm, Loans, Troon
Change of use from agricultural land to residential for private housing.


P\PPA\340\169
Lambhill Farm, Blairingone 
Approval of land restoration plan and extn.of time to complete restoration of opencast extraction site


P\PPA\350\111
Junction 26, off M8, Mossland Road, Hillington
Erection of Hotel with associated parking, formation of access.


P\PPA\230\229
55 High Street, South Queensferry
Change of use from garage & storage to dwellinghouse with same area of built footprints


P\PPA\250\260
Mugdum East Lodge Fishing Station, Newburgh
Residential Development


P\PPA\220\29
Westbourne Centre, Kelburn Street, Barrhead
Erection of class 1 food retail unit with associated car parking, service arrangement and formation of access.


P\PPA\370\83
Dunure Road, Doonfoot, Ayr
residential development of 60 detached dwellings


P\PPA\260\157
Minerva Way, Finnieston, Glasgow
Opp for flattted residential development - up to 8 storeys in height


P\PPA\100\138
Pittodrie Place and Pittodrie Street, Aberdeen
Erection of residential development including associated parking and landscaping


P\PPA\300\11
North Oakenhead Wood, By Lossiemouth
Wastewater and sewage treatment plant


P\PPA\110\213
Banavie, Bridge Street, Ellon
Erection of 22 flats and associated works.


P\PPA\390\104
61 Murray Place, Stirling
Change of use to amusement centre with ancillary retail sales & catering


P\PPA\200\68
Land on Southview Drive, Bearsden
Erection of 26 residential units


P\PPA\190\44
Watson Farm, Ochiltree
Proposed erection of 26 private dwellinghouses


P\PPA\350\133
Former Anchor Mills, Seedhill Road, Paisley
Residential development with associated road. Car parking and amenity space


2001-2002


P\PPA\240\62
Sunnyside Road, Wallacestone, Polmont
Residential Development


P\PPA\190\46
105 King Street, Kilmarnock
Proposed change of use to amusement centre with ancillary retail sales and catering


P\PPA\290\42
Pentland Retail Park, Straiton Mains, Straiton, Loanhead 
Erection of restaurant with drive through and takeaway facilities


P\PPA\250\291
Site to the West of Church Street, Ladybank, Cupar
Residential development including demolition of house


P\PPA\340\193
6-8 South Methven Street, Perth
Conversion of former council offices to an entertainment complex


P\PPA\300\73
Land at Junction of A96 and Nairn Road, Forres
Develop a supermarket and petrol filling station


P\PPA\230\322
9 Featherall Avenue, Edinburgh
Erect Flatted Housing Development for the Elderly


P\PPA\270\163
15-21 Dunabban Road, Inverness
Erection of 9 flats with associated car parking


P\PPA\110\221
Nether Park, Drumoak
Extraction of sand and gravel, associated processing plant/structures settling pond, haul road/vehicle access onto A93


P\PPA\240\65
75-77 High Street, Falkirk
Change of use to form amusement centre


P\PPA\230\334
48 Nicholson Street, Edinburgh
C O U from tanning studio to amusement centre


P\PPA\260\180
8 Norby Road, Broomhill Shopping Centre, Glasgow
Use of shop as public house (public house licence)


P\PPA\170\24
Mountainhall Fields (Phase 2), Bankend Road, Dumfries
Opp for a residential development


P\PPA\380\165
4 Cullen Road, East Kilbride
Erection of Single Storey Extension to Betting Office


P\PPA\250\327
130 Market Street, St Andrews
Side and rear extension to amusement arcade to for area for bingo


P\PPA\270\168
Dalraddy Holiday Park, Aviemore
Extension of caravan/chalet/tent camping areas


P\PPA\140\136
81-83 High Street, Hawick
Change of use of retail premises to betting office


P\PPA\310\51
Site to the North of Ford Wood, Ladyland Estate, Kilbirnie
OPP for erection of farm/estate house and associated farm buildings


P\PPA\250\332
Sawmill, Cupar Muir
OPP for Residential Development and Formation of Access onto Cupar Road


P\PPA\250\333
Land at Cupar Road, Cupar Muir
Removal of Condition 16 which Restricts the development of the Site to a Maximum of 4 Houses


P\PPA\370\120
Ottoline Drive/Wilson Avenue, Troon (01/0354/FUL)
Proposed Development of 47 Detached Residential Houses


P\PPA\150\30
Menstrie Mains, off Main Street, Menstrie
OPP for residential development


P\PPA\280\34
Hydro House, West Glen Road, Kilmacolm
Proposed residential development consisting of 4 detached dwellinghouses


2002-2003


P\PPA\400\89
Land Adjacent to Kildimmery Housing Development, Edinburgh Road, Linlithgow
Change of use from agricultural to grazing paddock land.


P\PPA\100\167
Mill O’Dyce, Dyce, Aberdeen
Alteration & Extension to Existing Buildings


P\PPA\290\62
Hardengreen, Eskbank, Midlothian
Erection of licensed restaurant with indoor play area and lounge bar (in outline)


P\PPA\290\66
Hardengreen, Eskbank
Erection of Restaurant with Indoor Play Area and Lounge Bar


P\PPA\320\97
Motherwell Town Centre
Refurbishment partial redevelopment and extension of Motherwell Town Centre.


P\PPA\320\101
Watsonhead Opencast Site, Morningside Road, Newmains, Wishaw
Amend. Condition 31 of Consent SX99/01661 to Allow Controlled Site Blasting


P\PPA\230\398
15-19 Devon Place, Edinburgh
Erection of Class 4 Office Development


P\PPA\390\147
Gartness Road, Drymen
Erection of 20 New Dwellings


P\PPA\230\396
Meadowplace Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh
Variation of Condition G41 of Permission A02549/97 to Permit Loading/Unloading in Service Yard from 6 am to 11 pm 


P\PPA\300\103
Site at Iowa Place, Forrest
Creation of 10 House Plots, Assoc. Access Road and Site Preparation Works


P\PPA\210\83
Tesco Store and Adjacent Land and Buildings at Newton Port, Haddington
Partial Demolition and Extension to Tesco Superstore


P\PPA\100\219
50 Union Street, Aberdeen
Change of Use from Class 1 (Retail) to Class 2 (Betting Office)


P\PPA\240\77
Myrehead Farm, Whitecross, Falkirk
OPP for Erection of Abattoir and Meat Processing Plant


2003-2004


P\PPA\180\100
77 High Street, Dundee
COU from Retail Shop to Amusement Centre with First Floor Beauty Salon


P\PPA\380\203
18 Cornwall Way, East Kilbride
Change of Use from Shop Unit to Amusement


P\PPA\400\111
Limefield, Boghall, Bathgate
Erection of Pre-Fabricated Building Within existing Farm Shed for the Intensive Breeding and Processing of Rodents


P\PPA\250\372
Land at Pitlair, Pitlair House, Bow of Fife, by Cupar
Erection of 8 Warden Assisted Dwellinghouses


P\PPA\110\367
Uryside, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
Residential Development


P\PPA\380\212
2 Princes Square, East Kilbride
Change of Use from Retail Shop to Amusement Centre with Ancillary Catering Retail & Tanning Facilities


P\PPA\270\222
Sir Walter Scott Drive, Beechwood Park, Inverness
New Bingo Club with Car Parking


P\PPA\380\209
The Old Schoolhouse, Hallburn Road, Drumclog
Change of use from Dwellinghouse to Form Residential Institution


P\PPA\230\482
59-67 Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh
Construction of 2 Commercial Uses, 2 Mews Houses and 12 Apartments


P\PPA\250\381
Westfield Opencast Coal Site, Cardenden, Lochgelly, Fife
Provision of Waste Resource Facilities, Rehabilitation & Restoration of Site etc…


P\PPA\100\240
Elmhill House, Ashgrove Road, Aberdeen
C.O.U OF Elmhill House and Alt. to Form 31 Flats, Erection of 109 New Flats and 14 Townhouses and Associated Car Parking


P\PPA\230\491
Wanton Walls Farm, 103 Newcraighall Road, Newhailes, Edinburgh
Erection of 11 Houses, Alteration to Access Road and Demolition of 105 Newcraighall and Outbuildings


P\PPA\350\210
Land to the Immediate North-East of Glenpatrick Works, Glenpatrick Road, Elderslie
Outline Planning Permission for Residential Development (200 Dwellings) with Associated Parking, Landscaping & Access


P\PPA\200\131
Bishopbriggs Water Tower, off Wester Cleddens Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow
Installation of up to 15 no Antennae and up to 6 no Transmission Dishes and Associated Equipment 


P\PPA\380\233
33A Downiebrae Road, Rutherglen
Formation of Showmen’s Permanent Living Quarters


P\PPA\400\133
Site Near Paddockhall Cottages, Linlithgow
Erection of Gate Piers at Side Entrance


2004-2005


P\PPA\110\434
Westfield, Oldmeldrum
Residential Development


P\PPA\180\114
334-336 Perth Road, Dundee
Conversion of Student Accommodation to Form 5 Townhouses, 13 Apartments and 4 Townhouses


P\PPA\230\578
Westacres, 579 Lanark Road West, Balerno, Edinburgh, EH14 7BL
The Construction of a Large Two Storey Detached House with Garage & Garden Ground


P\PPA\250\468
Balgeddie Riding School, Balgeddie Way, Glenrothes, Fife 
Erection of 72 Dwellinghouses, Domestic Garages, Access Roads, Play Areas, Open Space & Associated Works


P\PPA\230\605
139 Princes Street, Edinburgh 
C OF U from Office to Adult Gaming Centre with Ancillary Retail and Catering Facilities and Tanning Centre


P\PPA\130\108
Land West of A815/A886, Strachur, Argyll
Construction of New Sewage Treatment Facilities


P\PPA\230\601
Bell’s Mill, Edinburgh
Erection of a Residential Development Comprising 24 Units with Associated Landscaping/Parking 


P\PPA\250\476
Vacant Unit and Land to the Rear, Primrose Lane, Rosyth 
Outline Planning Application for Residential Use


2005-2006


P\PPA\220\95
58 Aurs Drive, Barrhead, G78 2LW
Change of Use of Shop to Hot Food Take Away


P\PPA\300\128
Hills of Towie, Knockan and McHattie’s Cairn, Drummuir, Keith, Banffshire
21 Wind Turbines, Assoc Turbine Transformers, Access Road, Control Building etc


P\PPA\300\137
Hills of Towie, Knockan and McHattie’s Cairn, Drummuir, Keith, Banffshire
Three Small Borrow Pits


P\PPA\230\649
Raeburn House Hotel, 112 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh & Edinburgh Academical Sports Centre, Port Gower Place, Edinburgh EH4 1HG
Extension for Existing Hotel and New Member Clubhouse (all to Operate with Hotel Liquor Licence)


P\PPA\190\109
Loudounhill Quarry, Strathaven Road, Darvel
Amendment to Condition No 3 of 99/0581/FL-Extend Time Period of Consent and Site


P\PPA\190\110
Loudounhill Quarry, Strathaven Road, Darvel
Amendment of Conditions No 2 and 3 of KL/E/FL/94/288A-Extend IME Period of Consent and Restoration


P\PPA\190\111
Loudounhill Quarry, Strathaven Road, Darvel
Extension of Dryworking Sand and Gravel Quarry


P\PPA\110\477
Greenford Farm, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire AB51 0EZ
Storage, Manufacture and Distribution of Fencing, Steel and Agricultural Related Products (Temp and Retrospective) 


P\PPA\120\142
Vacant Former Westburn Foundry, Stobcross, Arbroath
Proposed Supermarket, Associated Car Parking, Servicing and Improved Access


P\PPA\120\143
Former Westburn Foundry, Adjacent Bruce House Offices & Adjacent Land, Stobcross, Arbroath
Proposed Supermarket, Associated Car Parking, Servicing, Relocated council Offices/Car Parking & Revised Access


P\PPA\120\144
Vacant Land at 114 Robert Street, Arbroath
Change of use from Vacant Land to Car Parking with New Access


P\PPA\190\121
Land East Side of Waterslap, Fenwick, Kilmarnock KA3 6AJ 
Proposed Residential Development Comprising 6 No Detached Private Dwellings with Access


P\PPA\260\335
Service Road Adjacent to 21 Westerhouse Road, Glasgow 
Widening of Existing Access Road and Creation of New Spur into Superstore Site


P\PPA\230\700
97-99 South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1HN
Change of use to Adult Amusement Centre


P\PPA\230\728
7 Home Street, Edinburgh EH3 9JR
Change of use to Permit Sit In Facility to Cold Food Take Away 


P\PPA\130\126
Lynn Road, Oban, Argyll PA34 4PL
Erection of Class 1 Retail Unit with Associated Car Park and Service Area


P\PPA\180\145
Land North of Campfield Square, Nursery Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee
Installation of a 12.5 Metre High Streetworks Style Mast and 2 Equipment Cabinets 


P\PPA\110\491
Land to North of School Road, Newburgh
Proposed Residential Development


P\PPA\120\156
Land at Powmyre Farm, Kirriemuir, Angus, DD8 1QQ
Formation of Quarry Access

Planning

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all planning inquiries dealt with by the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit resulted in appeals being upheld in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The percentage of planning inquiries dealt with by the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit (SEIRU) which resulted in appeals being allowed (upheld) since 1 April 1999 is shown in the following table.

  

Year
% Allowed


1999-2000
42


2000-01
35


2001-02
47


2002-03
31


2003-04
43


2004-05
27


2005-06
54

Planning

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of planning inquiries in respect of wind farm proposals dealt with by the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit resulted in approval of wind farms in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The percentage of planning inquiries in respect of wind farm proposals dealt with by the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit (SEIRU) which resulted in appeals being allowed (approved) since 1 April 1999 is shown in the following table.

  

Year
% Allowed


1999-2000
0


2000-01
0


2001-02
0


2002-03
0


2003-04
0


2004-05
0


2005-06
50



  There have been only four delegated wind farm appeals decided by public local inquiry since 1 April 1999. One appeal was dismissed in each of the years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 and one was allowed in 2005-06.

Population

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage composition of the population in Dundee was in the last year for which information is available, broken down by (a) social group and (b) postcode.

George Lyon: The total population for each postcode is available from the 2001 Census but no breakdown of these totals can be provided because it might allow the identification of an individual, breaching the promise of confidentiality given on the Census form. The lowest level at which 2001 Census figures can be broken down is Census output area. A breakdown of people aged 16 to 74 by National Statistics Socio-economic Classification at Census output area level is available on the Scotland’s Census Results On-Line website ( www.scrol.gov.uk – table UV31).

Population

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest available annual information is on the average age of (a) the population of Dundee and (b) those who have migrated to the city.

George Lyon: At 30 June 2005 the average age of the population of Dundee City Council area was 40 years.

  In the year to 30 June 2005, the average age of those migrating to Dundee City was 28 years. That figure does not include international migrants who do not meet the UN definition of someone who changes country of residence for 12 months or more.

Population

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of people who commute to Dundee to work and what percentage of the Dundee working population this represents.

George Lyon: This information is available from the 2001 Census. There were 66,663 people living in Scotland who worked in the Dundee City council area (excluding working students), 19,306 (29 %) of whom lived outside Dundee City.

Population

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of people who commute from Dundee to work and what percentage of the resident working population this represents.

George Lyon: This information is available from the 2001 Census. There were 53,681 working people (excluding working students) who lived in the Dundee City council area, 6,324 (12 per cent) of whom worked outside Dundee City.

Private Finance Initiatives

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the PFI/PPP projects which it has approved in each year since May 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information on approved Scottish PFI/PPP projects is available from the Scottish Executive Financial Partnerships Unit’s website at the following link www.scotland.gov.uk/ppp .

Public Appointments

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27465 by Mr Tom McCabe on 14 August 2006, whether it will list the names of those individuals with a known or declared membership of the Labour or Liberal Democrat parties appointed by Scottish ministers to (a) NDPB and (b) NHS boards.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive’s public appointments website details the declared political activity of current appointees, including the name of the party for which the activity was undertaken. This information can be found at:

  http://194.247.95.101/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory/Q/apptlist/true.

  The Executive does not retain historical data in relation to the political activity declarations of named individuals who are no longer appointees.

Schools

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor the number of children newly presenting at primary and secondary schools at the start of the new term who require support in respect of English as a Second Language in each local authority area.

Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive routinely collects information on the ethnic background of pupils, and has since 2005 collected information on pupils for whom English is an additional language. The information was not reliable enough to publish for 2005, but it is hoped data will be available for 2006. Officials will shortly meet with a sample of local authorities, including Highland, to discuss this issue.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has begun any form of consultation with statisticians, statistical users or the UK Government regarding a review of the concordat relating to the production of statistics.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has only started considering the specifics of the concordat recently. There has been some initial discussion with UK Government. Further consultation will take place as appropriate.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has formulated a position on HM Treasury’s proposals referred to in Independence for statistics: A consultation document and, if so, whether it will make that position public.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has not formulated a position on HM Treasury’s proposals. It is more concerned with developing appropriate arrangements for Scotland, but will come to a view on the HM Treasury proposals as part of the process of considering its own position and will make that public in due course.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a written submission on HM Treasury’s proposals referred to in Independence for statistics: A consultation document and, if so, when the submission will be published.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has not made a written submission and does not intend to.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reduce the time during which ministers and civil servants have pre-publication access to statistics from approximately 40 hours to three hours as recommended by the House of Commons Treasury Committee in its Tenth Report of Session 2005-06: Independence for Statistics and whether, in doing so, it will also adopt the recommendation that opposition spokespeople should be entitled to pre-publication access to statistics at least one hour in advance of publication.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive does not have plans to reduce the pre-publication access which for most statistics releases is in fact five days as is standard for National Statistics across the UK. It considers this to be an important part of ensuring that ministers are able to respond to immediate demands at the time that statistics are released. It will be considering its arrangements for pre-release access as part of the consideration of its broader position on statistics referred to in the answer to question S2W-27904 on 11 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Statistics

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when formulating any response to HM Treasury’s Independence for statistics: A consultation document , it consulted any external organisations or individuals and, if so, whether it will provide a list of these organisations or individuals.

Mr Tom McCabe: This is fully covered in my answer to question S2W-27904 on 11 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Voluntary Sector

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it evaluates the success of, and value for money delivered by, community and independent voluntary sector organisations addressing health inequalities in each NHS board area.

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it scrutinises the amount of funding allocated to community and independent voluntary sector organisations addressing health inequalities in each NHS board area.

Lewis Macdonald: Evaluation and scrutiny of community and independent voluntary sector organisations, whether addressing health inequalities or any other topic, is a matter for those bodies which provide the funding.

  In the case of organisations in receipt of funding from the Scottish Executive, those bodies are required to evaluate the impact of their work. The form of evaluation is a matter for negotiation between the grant scheme managers and the organisations provided with financial assistance. The methodologies used will vary across the Executive, as they are designed to suit the individual grant schemes and the organisations funded through them. However, generic good practice guidance is being developed by the Scottish Executive and this will be rolled out to all grant providing areas later this year to augment arrangements already in place.

Waste Management

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the new EU Sludge Directive, affecting the re-use of sewage sludge on agricultural land, to be introduced.

Ross Finnie: The European Commission’s Waste Thematic Strategy, published on 21 December 2005, envisaged the publication of a proposal for revision of council Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture, in 2007.

  We have received no information to indicate any change to this schedule.

Waste Management

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, and to whom, regarding the forthcoming EU directive on sewage sludge.

Ross Finnie: No proposals for the revision of the Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) have yet been published. The Scottish Executive has accordingly made no representations on this subject.

Waste Management

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the likely impact of the new EU Sludge Directive in limiting the potential for re-use of sewage sludge on agricultural land.

Ross Finnie: No proposals for the revision of the Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) have yet been published. The Scottish Executive has therefore not been in a position to make any assessment of the likely impact of a new Directive.

Waste Management

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what response it made to Scottish Water regarding its proposed sewage sludge strategy which advocates a combination of recycling to agricultural land and incineration as the favoured means of disposal of sewage sludge in the future.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has made no response to Scottish Water regarding its proposed sewage sludge strategy.

  Scottish Water has yet to publish conclusions arising from its recent consultation exercise. It is likely that discussions with the Executive would take place at that point.